That the same individual alleged to have left three puppies to die on railroad tracks in Albany now has been charged in connection with leaving dogs in the back of a truck in freezing temperatures points to the importance of strong sentencing in cruelty-to-animals cases ("Man in puppy case is charged again," Jan. 28).
Repeat offenses are the rule, not the exception, among animal abusers. Convicted animal abusers need a ban on owning or harboring animals, with regular, unannounced checks from officials to ensure compliance. Treating cruelty to animals with the seriousness it deserves protects everyone. In my work, I have seen case after case in which people who abuse animals commit similar crimes against members of their own communities and families.
There is never an excuse for abandoning or neglecting an animal. I urge readers who have animals they can no longer care for to do the humane thing and take them to a reputable, open-door animal shelter, where they will be safe, cared for, and loved and will have a chance at finding new homes. To learn more, visit http://www.PETA.org.
MARTIN MERSEREAU
Director
Emergency Response Team
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Va.